Athlete of Year Selected

Zeke Gossett, a fishing participant from Cropwell, was selected as 2010 Alabama Sports Festival Athlete of the Year.

MORE

Need money for college?

The Alabama Sports Festival has awarded more than $182,000 in scholarships to Alabama youth. Find out how you could be the next scholarship recipient!

MORE

Alabama Students Against Tobacco Ambassadors

The Alabama Students Against Tobacco Ambassadors fight against tobacco use - particularly among Alabama's youth! Click here to see this year's ASAT Ambassadors

MORE

Got a Question?

If you have a general question about the Sports Festival, you will find a lot answers here in the frequently asked questions.

MORE

Did You Know That...

How long has the Alabama Sports Festival been in existence? Where was the very first one held? ...

MORE

Alabama Sports Festival 2011

June 24-June 26, 2011

Birmingham, Alabama

Athlete Leadership Summit

2010 Athlete Leadership Summit

Guest Speaker: Jennifer Chandler

Jennifer Chandler was born in Langdale, AL. and she was a championship diver from childhood. In 1972, when she was 12, she was named the best female athlete in any sport in the United States Junior Olympics program. In 1973, she won two 13-14-year-old world age-group diving championships in Belgium then finished eighth competing against adults in the 3-meter springboard at the World Aquatics championships in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, that fall. She reached the pinnacle of success in her sport when she won the 3-meter springboard gold medal at the 1976 Olympics as a 17-year old. She is the last American to win the Olympic women’s 3-meter springboard event.

Jennifer earned a place on the 1980 United States Olympic team but was unable to defend her 1976 Olympic title when the United States did not participate in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. A back injury led to her retirement from diving when she was 21.

She was elected to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1985. In 1987, she became a member of the International Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame. Since 2003, she has been director of outreach programs for the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

Guest Speaker: Harvey Glance

Harvey Glance was born in Phenix City, Alabama. The greatest sprinter in Auburn history. A three-time Olympian and 1976 gold medal winner. Some of his accomplishments are: 1976-Olympic Gold Medalist; NCAA Champion-60 yards, 100 meters, 200 meters; World Record Holder-100 meters. 1977-SEC Champion-60 yards, 100 meters, 200 meters; NCAA Champion-100 meters. 1978- SEC Champion 60 yards, 100 meters, 200 meters. 1979- Pan Am Games Gold Medalist 100 meters, 4x100 Relay. 1980- Olympic Team/Captain- 100 meters, 4x100 Relay. 1984- Olympic Team-4x100 Relay. 1985- World Cup Gold Medalist-4x100 Relay. 1986-Goodwill Games Gold Medalist-4x100 Relay. 1987-World Championship Gold Medalist 4x100 Relay, Pan Am Games Gold Medalist-4x100 Relay. From 1991-96 he served as head coach at Auburn University. In 1997, he became the men’s head track coach at the University of Alabama. He also served on the coaching staff of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team.

Guest Speaker: Maze Marshall

Kenneth Marshall, known as 'Maze', is a retired Army Sergeant. In 1987, he fell from a helicopter during operations on the Korean Peninsula, paralyzing me from the waist down. After receiving care at the Tuskegee Veterans hospital, I was medically retired. At the age of 22, his military career was over, but he discovered athletics as a way to get through the tough times.

Maze has since competed all over the world and won at least one gold medal in every track and field competition he has entered and, during the 2000 Paralympic Trials, he won three gold medals in shot put, the javelin, and discus, which qualified him for the 2000 Paralympic Games. He won the Silver Medal in the Javelin at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

Today, Maze serves on the board of the Governor's Commission on Physical Fitness as well as several other organizations serving military veterans as well.

2009 Athlete Leadership Summit

Guest Speaker: Siran Stacy

Siran Stacy is a former University of Alabama All-SEC running back. Stacy also played professional football in the National Football League, Canadian Football League and NFL Europe.

Stacy has dealt with great hardship in recent years, losing his wife and four of his five children in an automobile accident in November 2007.

2008 Athlete Leadership Summit

Guest Speaker: Bobby Bowden

Bobby Bowden, Head Football Coach of Florida State University, spoke at the Athlete Leadership Summit. Coach Bowden entered the 2008 season as the winningest coach in the history of major college football with a career record of 373-119-4.

[Last updated: 2010-07-22 10:09:17]

The Official Website of the Alabama Sports Festival

Page loaded in 0.28 seconds.